Hotel Tarik

The hotel occupies a three-story Andalusian-style building painted bright white. Built in the 1960s, it has been refurbished over the years, though has retained its open-layout interiors and some traditional touches -- like painted and decorative tile on the floors and some walls. The building wraps around a spacious outdoor pool that's surrounded by a large lawn. This is the most active area of the property, where guests (mostly couples, and some families with kids) are often found relaxing on sunbeds. There's also a good-sized lobby/reading room with a mismatched collection of plush couches and wood-framed chairs. Landscape paintings decorate the walls, and windows allow in some pleasant natural light. While the hotel doesn't go out of its way in terms of decor, it offers a good dose of charm as well as a relaxed atmosphere. Staff are also consistently highly rated by guests. 

Hotel Tarik is located in Torremolinos on Spain's Costa del Sol. It sits across the street from the beach and right on the Paseo Maritimo, a pedestrian promenade stretching along the sand. This is a tourist-friendly area with lots of hotels, restaurants, beach bars, and some small grocery stores on the surrounding streets. However, the historic city center is about 15 to 20 minutes away on foot. This charming Old Town features the picturesque squares of Plaza de Andalucía and Plaza de la Nogalera, as well as sights such as Torre de Pimentel, the town's last remaining windmill (from the 14th century). From the windmill, it's a short walk down a staircase to Bajondillo beach. Also nearby is Casa de los Navajas, a 1925 neo-Mozarabe residence with a public terrace overlooking the sea. Malaga Airport is just 15 minutes from the hotel by car, while Malaga is about 35 minutes' drive.

Single, double, and triple rooms are available at the Hotel Tarik. Decor is basic and not overly modern, with classic dark wood furniture, white or pale-green painted walls, and large brown tile floors. Patterned bedspreads could use an update. However, rooms are comfy enough and consistently clean. Most have private balconies with pool and sea views, while others have direct access to the pool and garden. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, 26-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and safes (for a fee). But there are no coffee/tea facilities or minibars. Bathrooms are dimly lit and some are more modern than others, with stall showers made of khaki-colored stone. Others have shower/tub combos, bidets, and traditional tile. Basic toiletries and hairdryers are provided. 

The hotel's poolside restaurant serves buffet-style breakfast and dinner. Breakfast options include full English and continental, and a good choice of cold items like fruit, cereal, and bread. Guests can also head to the Tarik restaurant-pizzeria for a la carte pizza and Mediterranean dishes. Half-board and bed-and-breakfast options are available. The cafe-bar serves drinks and light meals all day and has a couple of large flat-screen TVs for sports fans. An outdoor pool is unheated although typically comfortable for swimming, and has an adjacent solarium. Across the promenade at the beach are rows of straw umbrellas and sunbeds for rent. There are a couple of guest computers with Wi-Fi in the lobby. The hotel is closed for the winter months.